From a correspondent:

Two other costs of relocation: the officer time expended on the move is not being costed – £2 million? Richard Cohen doesn’t come cheap. And more importantly, the location of Skypark will mean that the make-up of the workforce will chance dramatically, and is likely in the future to be drawn from outside the District. Exeter mainly, but also Taunton and Newton Abbot/Torbay. This will mean that between £5 and £7 million per annum in wages will be sent outside the District.

Re the Bucks proposition (see post below) and DCC’s proposal 4 (?) years ago. The big problem with the DCC proposal was that they wanted parish councils to be only part elected, with several members being appointed. This would mean the local police officer, nurse and fire officer, unelected, determining planning applications in your street. No thanks. This was a big flaw and lost the confidence of a lot of people. A genuine fresh attempt by DCC and passing power down to local Parish councils in the spirit of localism would be very popular right now. If the Parish councils had power people would stand for them.

And finally, this quote from the blog of Councillor Susie Bond on this afternoon’s DMC meeting we can’t wait for the audio tape of this precis:

“Chair, Cllr Helen Parr, pointed out that the Local Plan was ready as far as EDDC was concerned at the Examination in Public earlier this year, but that it was the Planning Inspector who had asked for more evidence on housing numbers.”

Work that one out!